Project description:Contraceptive drugs intended for family planning are used by the majority of married or in-union women in almost all regions of the world. The two most prevalent types of hormones associated with contraception are synthetic estrogens and progestins. Hormonal based contraceptives contain a dose of a synthetic progesterone (progestin) or a combination of a progestin and a synthetic estrogen. In this study we use mathematical modeling to understand better how these contraceptive paradigms prevent ovulation, special focus is on understanding how changes in dose impact hormonal cycling. To explain this phenomenon, we added two autocrine mechanisms essential to achieve contraception within our previous menstrual cycle models. This new model predicts mean daily blood concentrations of key hormones during a contraceptive state achieved by administering progestins, synthetic estrogens, or a combined treatment. Model outputs are compared with data from two clinical trials: one for a progestin only treatment and one for a combined hormonal treatment. Results show that contraception can be achieved with synthetic estrogen, with progestin, and by combining the two hormones. An advantage of the combined treatment is that a contraceptive state can be obtained at a lower dose of each hormone. The model studied here is qualitative in nature, but can be coupled with a pharmacokinetic/pharamacodynamic (PKPD) model providing the ability to fit exogenous inputs to specific bioavailability and affinity. A model of this type may allow insight into a specific drug's effects, which has potential to be useful in the pre-clinical trial stage identifying the lowest dose required to achieve contraception.
Project description:OBJECTIVE:To assess strategies to improve safe-sex practices in sexually active female adolescents living with HIV, through linking reproductive health (RH) care with HIV care. METHODS:A single arm, 48-week prospective study was conducted with 77 sexually active adolescents in five sites in Thailand. Guided RH education was carried out through video, brochures and individual counselling. Participants were offered free effective contraception (EC), in addition to a barrier method (dual contraception) versus barrier method only. Changes in EC use were assessed with McNemar's test; predicting factors with logistic regression. RESULTS:Median age was 19 years; 95% were perinatally infected; 30% had been pregnant. All but one showed RH-knowledge improvement after RH education. Individual counselling was most often rated the 'most helpful' educational method. At the screening visit 21% were using dual contraception; 53% a male condom only; 8% EC method only; and 18% were not using any contraceptive method. Dual-contraception use improved with time, reaching 74% at week 48. EC-use at the baseline visit was associated with having ever used EC prior to study entry (P<0.0001), and the study site (P<0.0001). Having ever used EC was associated with a history of pregnancy (P=0.0085) and forced sex (P=0.0386). CONCLUSION:Offering continuous RH care, linked with HIV care, resulted in increased use of dual contraception. Healthcare providers played a significant role in the process. RH education should address the main predictors for EC use by adolescents, including past, personal experience.
Project description:We sought to compare complication and continuation rates of the levonorgestrel intrauterine system (LNG-IUS) with the subdermal etonogestrel (ENG) implant across the United States among girls and women 15-44 years of age.A retrospective study of health insurance claims records from 2007 through 2011 identified a cohort of women who had LNG-IUS (n = 79,920) or ENG implants (n = 7374) inserted and had insurance coverage for 12 months postinsertion. Claims for complications were examined 12 months after insertion, or until removal of either device within each of 3 age groups.After its introduction in 2007, the frequency of ENG implants increased each year and almost a third of all insertions were in teenagers. However, among women ?24 years old who had delivered an infant in the prior 8 weeks, a LNG-IUS was more likely to be inserted than an ENG implant (P < .05). The most frequent complications with both methods were related to abnormal menstruation, which was more likely to occur among ENG implant users. Overall, 83-88% of the entire sample used their chosen method for at least 12 months. The odds of continuation were similar for both methods among teenagers, but ENG implants were more likely to be removed prematurely among women 20-24 years old (odds ratio, 1.21; 95% confidence interval, 1.06-1.39) and 25-44 years old (odds ratio, 1.49; 95% confidence interval, 1.35-1.64).Both of these long-acting contraceptive methods are well tolerated among women of all ages, and demonstrate high continuation rates.
Project description:BACKGROUND:Adherence to antiplatelet medications is critical to prevent life threatening complications (ie, stent thrombosis) after percutaneous coronary interventions (PCIs), yet rates of nonadherence range from 21-57% by 12 months. Mobile interventions delivered via text messaging or mobile apps represent a practical and inexpensive strategy to promote behavior change and enhance medication adherence. OBJECTIVE:The Mobile4Meds study seeks to determine whether text messaging or a mobile app, compared with an educational website control provided to all Veterans, can improve adherence to antiplatelet therapy among patients following acute coronary syndrome (ACS) or PCI. The three aims of the study are to: (1) determine preferences for content and frequency of text messaging to promote medication adherence through focus groups; (2) identify the most patient-centered app that promotes adherence, through a content analysis of all commercially available apps for medication adherence and focus groups centered on usability; and (3) compare adherence to antiplatelet medications in Veterans after ACS/PCI via a randomized clinical trial (RCT). METHODS:We will utilize a mixed-methods design that uses focus groups to achieve the first and second aims (N=32). Patients will be followed for 12 months after being randomly assigned to one of three arms: (1) customized text messaging, (2) mobile app, or (3) website-control groups (N=225). Medication adherence will be measured with electronic monitoring devices, pharmacy records, and self-reports. RESULTS:Enrollment for the focus groups is currently in progress. We expect to enroll patients for the RCT in the beginning of 2018. CONCLUSIONS:Determining the efficacy of mobile technology using a Veteran-designed protocol to promote medication adherence will have a significant impact on Veteran health and public health, particularly for individuals with chronic diseases that require strict medication adherence. TRIAL REGISTRATION:ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03022669.
Project description:Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infectivity increases as receptor/coreceptor expression levels increase. We determined peripheral CD4, CCR5, and CXCR4 expression levels in HIV-uninfected women who used depot medroxyprogesterone acetate (DMPA; n = 32), the levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine device (LNG-IUD; n = 27), oral contraceptive pills (n = 32), or no hormonal contraception (n = 33). The use of LNG-IUD increased the proportion of CD4(+) and CD8(+) T cells that expressed CCR5; increases in the magnitude of T-cell subset CCR5 expression were observed with DMPA and LNG-IUD use (P < .01 for all comparisons). LNG-IUD and, to a lesser extent, DMPA use were associated with increased peripheral T-cell CCR5 expression.
Project description:Hormonal contraceptives are used widely worldwide; their effect on HIV acquisition remains unresolved. We reanalyzed data from the Hormonal Contraception and HIV Study using marginal structural modeling to reduce selection bias due to time-dependent confounding. Replicating our original analysis closely, we found that depo-medroxyprogesterone acetate (DMPA) but not combined oral contraceptive (COC) was associated with increased HIV acquisition. Also, young (18-24 years) but not older women who used DMPA and COCs were at increased HIV risk.
Project description:Importance:Since 2016, 11 states have expanded the scope of pharmacists to include direct prescription of hormonal contraception. Dispensing greater than 1 month's supply is associated with improved contraceptive continuation rates and fewer breaks in coverage. Scant data exist on the practice of pharmacist prescription of contraception and its outcomes compared with traditional, clinic-based prescriptions. Objective:To compare the amount of hormonal contraceptive supply dispensed between pharmacists and clinic-based prescriptions. Prescribing patterns were assessed by describing prescribing practices for women with contraindications to combined hormonal contraception. Characteristics of women seeking hormonal contraception directly from pharmacists were also described. Design, Setting, and Participants:This cohort study surveyed women aged 18 to 50 years who presented to pharmacies in California, Colorado, Hawaii, and Oregon for hormonal contraception prescribed by a clinician or a pharmacist between January 30 and November 1, 2019. Exposures:Pharmacist or clinic-based prescription of contraception. Main Outcomes and Measures:Months of contraceptive supply dispensed. Results:Four hundred ten women (mean [SD] age, 27.1 [7.7] years) were recruited who obtained contraception directly from a pharmacist (n?=?144) or by traditional clinician prescription (n?=?266). Women obtaining contraception from a pharmacist were significantly younger (82 [56.9%] vs 115 [43.2%] participants aged 18-24 years; P?=?.03), had less education (38 [26.4%] vs 100 [37.6%] with a bachelor degree; P?=?.002), and were more likely to be uninsured (16 [11.1%] vs 8 [3.0%] participants; P?=?.001) compared with women with a prescription from a clinician. Pharmacists were significantly more likely to prescribe a 6-month or greater supply of contraceptives than clinicians (6.9% vs 1.5%, P?<?.001) and significantly less likely to only prescribe a 1-month supply (42 [29.2%] vs 118 [44.4%] prescriptions; P?<?.001). Controlling for all covariates, women seen by pharmacists had higher odds of receipt of a 6-month or greater supply of contraceptives compared with those seen by clinicians (odds ratio?=?3.55; 95% CI, 1.88-6.70). Pharmacists were as likely as clinicians to prescribe a progestin-only method to women with a potential contraindication to estrogen (n?=?60 women; 8 [20.0%] vs 6 [30.0%], P?=?.52). Conclusions and Relevance:These findings suggest that pharmacist prescription of contraception may be associated with improved contraceptive continuation by preventing breaks in coverage through the provision of a greater supply of medication. Efforts are needed to educate prescribing providers on the importance of dispensing 6 months or greater contraceptive supply.
Project description:OBJECTIVE:Combined oral contraceptives induce a reversible hypercoagulable state with an enhanced risk of venous thromboembolism, but the underlying mechanism(s) remain unclear. Subjects on combined oral contraceptives also demonstrate a characteristic resistance to APC (activated protein C) in the thrombin generation assay. Here, we report the potential role of plasma factor IXa (FIXa) as a mechanism for hormone-induced systemic hypercoagulability. APPROACH AND RESULTS:A novel assay was used to determine FIXa activity in plasma samples from volunteer blood donors. Plasma from 36 premenopausal females on hormonal contraception and 35 not on hormonal contraception, 35 postmenopausal females, and 10 males were analyzed for FIXa activity, total PS (protein S), total tissue factor pathway inhibitor (TFPI), and TFPI-? antigen. Premenopausal females on hormonal contraception demonstrated significantly increased FIXa activity and decreased TFPI-? compared with the other groups. Remarkably, FIXa values were not normally distributed in the hormonal contraception group, but skewed toward the high end. Plasma FIXa activity inversely correlated with both TFPI-? and total PS antigen. Ex vivo determination of TF-dependent FIX activation in FV-deficient plasma demonstrated that inhibitory anti-TFPI antibodies enhanced FIXa generation by 2- to 3-fold, whereas addition of 75 nmol/L PS reduced FIXa generation by ?2-fold. Further, increasing FIXa concentration enhanced APC resistance during TF-triggered plasma thrombin generation. CONCLUSIONS:Elevation of plasma FIXa activity in association with reductions in TFPI-? and PS is a potential mechanism for systemic hypercoagulability and resistance to APC in premenopausal females on hormonal contraception.
Project description:Among women, human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) infection is most prevalent in those of reproductive age. These women are also at risk of unintended or mistimed pregnancies. Hormonal contraceptives (HCs) are one of the most commonly used methods of family planning worldwide. Therefore, concurrent use of HC among women on antiretroviral medications (ARVs) is increasingly common. ARVs are being investigated and have been approved for pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), and therefore, drug-drug interactions must also be considered in HIV-1-negative women who want to prevent both unintended pregnancy and HIV-1 infection. This article will review four main interactions: (i) the effect of HCs on ARV pharmacokinetics (PK) and pharmacodynamics (PD) during therapy, (ii) the effect of ARVs on HC PK and PD, (iii) the role of drug transporters on drug-drug interactions, and (iv) ongoing research into the effect of HCs on pre-exposure prophylaxis PK and PD.
Project description:BACKGROUND:The Clyk™ digital pill dispenser helps ensure correct and consistent administration of a flexible extended regimen of the combined oral contraceptive, ethinylestradiol (EE) 20 ?g/drospirenone 3 mg (EE/drospirenone ; YAZ(®) Flex Flex), guiding users through the intake cycle and 4-day pill break and providing visible and acoustic daily reminders when pill intake is due. A study showed that the audible alarm function of the dispenser could help reduce the number of missed pills, but it lacked an appropriate "non-dispenser" group for a meaningful assessment of the impact of the dispenser on adherence. This study indirectly assessed the overall effect of the digital dispenser on adherence by comparing data from a treatment with standard blister packaging. MATERIALS AND METHODS:One-year adherence data were compared from two similarly designed, Phase III, open-label, randomized trials of EE/drospirenoneFlex. In study 1, women used diary cards to record adherence with EE/drospirenoneFlex dispensed in blister packs (n=640), and in study 2 the dispenser was used with the alarm activated (n=250) or deactivated (n=248) in addition to using diary cards. RESULTS:A mean (±SD) of 4.3 (±4.24) missed pills over 1 year were recorded in diary cards among women who dispensed their pills from the blister packages (study 1) compared with 1.0 (±2.4) recorded by the alarm-activated dispenser (study 2). In study 2, a mean of 1.9 (±4.2) missed pills were reported in the diaries over 1 year compared with 4.4 (±9.1) from automatic recording by the dispenser (both arms of study 2), indicating underreporting of missed pills in diary cards vs the digital dispenser. Adjusting for this rate of underreporting, an estimated mean of ten pills were missed over 1 year by women using EE/drospirenoneFlex in blister packs, or ten times more than with the digital dispenser with activated acoustic alarm. CONCLUSION:The digital dispenser helps reduce the number of missed pills and increases adherence.